Narrative of an Excursion to the Mountains of Piemont, and Researches Among the Vaudois, or Waldenses - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. General observations--The churches which have been planted by the Vaudois--In Calabria, Spain, and France--Persecutions in these countries--The Waldenses of Provence--Their correspondence with CEcolampadius--Francis I.--The cruelties practised at Merindol, at Cabriere.--Aymond de la Voye.--'The Waldenses of Piemont take measures for tlteir own defence.--Concessions granted by their Sovereign--Review of their character, conflicts and opinions--Their claims to attention--Concluding observations. The preceding chapter contains but a mere outline of the superstitions of the Roman church, and of the monstrous absurdities which its hierarchy introduced into the forms of Christian worship. The Vaudois were the first who engaged to cleanse this Augean stable of corruption; and if we had records that would enable us to follow them, step by step, through their bold and arduous undertaking, we should be able to exhibit one of the most glorious pictures of human perseverance that was ever displayed. They not only succeeded in preserving the pure doctrine and discipline of the primitive ages, in their own secluded valleys, but they carried them into distant parts; and upon the banks of the Rhine and the Danube, in the remote provinces of Spain and Calabria, and in the plains of France were witnessed for a time the extraordinary effects produced upon the manners and character of the inhabitants, by Waldensian preachers, whose Alpine retreats gave the name to a church, which has withstood every assault that has been made upon it, on the spot where it was originally M m founded. And this, it will be observed, is not the least remarkable feature in the history of the Vaudois. They sent forth teachers, who crossed the Alps, the Apennines, and the Pyrenees, ma...